An at-home finger-prick blood test measuring cortisol, the hormone linked to your body's stress response. Suits people who want a quick, low-cost check of their cortisol level without visiting a clinic.
1 biomarker as listed by Better2Know.
Cortisol is the hormone your adrenal glands release in response to stress, and this test measures its level from a single finger-prick blood sample you collect at home. Persistently high or low cortisol is commonly assessed alongside symptoms such as fatigue, weight changes, high blood pressure or muscle weakness, and alongside investigation for adrenal conditions. If you are experiencing ongoing stress-related symptoms, it is worth discussing them with your GP alongside any test result.
At £55 this sits a little above the £45.13 median for the five cortisol tests we track, with YorkTest and Forth both offering home kits at £41 and Medichecks at £45. It is, however, far cheaper than Better2Know's own clinic-based Cortisol Test, which tests the same single marker for £195. Because this is a single-marker test, our depth score reflects that testing breadth is not really the point of this comparison group.
It scores well for collection convenience since it is done entirely at home with results back in about 1 day, and well for clarity thanks to a clear description, reference-range guidance and stated turnaround. It scores lower on results and follow-up because, as with Better2Know's other tests, results are not doctor-reviewed as standard.
This suits you if you want a quick, low-cost check of your cortisol level from home, for example if you are experiencing stress-related symptoms and want a baseline reading, ideally taken in the morning or at midnight to match the stated reference range.
If price is the main factor, YorkTest's Stress (Cortisol) Test and Forth's Cortisol Home Blood Test Kit are both £41, £14 less than this kit for the same single marker. If you would rather have a clinician take the sample in person, Better2Know's own Cortisol Test covers the same marker at a clinic, though it costs £195.
You collect a finger-prick blood sample at home using the kit provided and post it to Better2Know's laboratory. The fact sheet states results are ready within about 1 working day of the sample's arrival, viewable in your online patient account, with notification by phone, SMS or email. It notes you can take results to your own GP or arrange a private doctor consultation through Better2Know; it does not state that results are doctor-reviewed as standard by default.
This home finger-prick kit checks cortisol for £55, a bit above the £45.13 median for the five cortisol tests we track but £140 less than Better2Know's own clinic-based Cortisol Test. Cheaper options exist too, including YorkTest and Forth's home kits at £41 each. Results come back within about 1 day and are not doctor-reviewed as standard.
The listing publishes a detailed description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.
A single-marker test measuring exactly what it sets out to; depth is not the point of this comparison group.
A finger-prick sample you take at home; results in around 1 days, in line with or faster than similar tests.
Results are not doctor-reviewed and no consultation is included; the provider does not describe the report format.
Trustpilot 4.2 from 775 reviews; CQC registered; trading 18+ years.
£55.00 against a comparison-group median of £45.13 (+22%).
Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.
This test belongs to our Cortisol test comparison group. See how it stacks up against equivalent tests from other providers.
Multiple collection options, priced in line with rivals
Measures cortisol, the body's main stress hormone, as an initial check when adrenal function or chronic stress is a concern. Suits anyone advised to start with a basic cortisol check.
Priced right at the market median for cortisol tests
A single 9am blood test for cortisol, the main stress hormone, used alongside other tests to help assess adrenal conditions such as Cushing's syndrome or Addison's disease.
Joint cheapest cortisol test in its comparison group
A single-marker finger-prick test measuring 9am cortisol, commonly used to assess your body's stress hormone response, energy and sleep patterns.
Joint-cheapest single cortisol test, tied with Forth
An at-home finger-prick test measuring morning cortisol, a hormone commonly used as a marker of stress. Suited to a quick standalone check on cortisol levels.
Same-marker cortisol test, priced 4x the group median
A clinic-based blood test measuring cortisol, the hormone linked to your body's stress response, taken via a venous draw or home nurse visit. Suits people who want a clinician to take the sample rather than doing a finger-prick themselves.
Multiple collection options, priced in line with rivals
Measures cortisol, the body's main stress hormone, as an initial check when adrenal function or chronic stress is a concern. Suits anyone advised to start with a basic cortisol check.
Priced right at the market median for cortisol tests
A single 9am blood test for cortisol, the main stress hormone, used alongside other tests to help assess adrenal conditions such as Cushing's syndrome or Addison's disease.
Joint cheapest cortisol test in its comparison group
A single-marker finger-prick test measuring 9am cortisol, commonly used to assess your body's stress hormone response, energy and sleep patterns.
Joint-cheapest single cortisol test, tied with Forth
An at-home finger-prick test measuring morning cortisol, a hormone commonly used as a marker of stress. Suited to a quick standalone check on cortisol levels.
